I came to Yamanaka Campground on this visit in late March, a little before the site gets many campers, for some fresh air and scenery. It’s a pretty basic site, but there’s plenty to explore if you take the time to look. The village of Mitsuse is an up-and-coming getaway for city dwellers, too, with its easy trails and fine cafés in the vicinity.
- 1 min read
Yamanaka Campground in Macro
Closeup views of a simple village campsite

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
A ladybug about to alight from moss

A stream flows across the road from the campground

The shrine here hosts some beautiful mosses

This pale-green moss, a member of the Dicranum genus (fork-moss), prefers the lower tree trunks at the shrine

The ladybug out for a walk near the shrine

Looking up a sugi, or Japanese cedar

Closeup of Hypnum (plait-moss), is one of the several moss genera at the campground

This plant is common here, spreading out on top of the ground

Plush green moss; a mixture of species clumped together

These ferns have fronds split at a distinct angle

Four species of moss on one rock

A tiny pinecone rests on the ground

An early spring flower

Take this trail into the woods toward Mt. Kana
Join the discussion
Laura Weaver
10 years ago
Beautiful photos! What camera do you use? Nice to see some lesser known Japanese wildlife.
Thank you! The closeup photos were taken with a Canon 7D and a 100 mm f/2.8L macro lens. Yes, you may not see a lot of large animals in Japan, but there's a lot of interesting stuff if you take some time to notice the small things.
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